I began writing for Forbes in 2010. It was just as the economy was starting to perk up and a fascinating time to cover the stock market, which I did for three months until I switched beats in September 2010. Now I contribute to the Leadership channel, with a focus on jobs and careers–-another hot topic in a time when people are vigorously hunting for jobs or desperately trying to hold on to the ones they have. I have a BA from the University of Arizona and a master's degree in journalism from Hofstra University. Follow me on Twitter @JacquelynVSmith, subscribe to me on Google+, or email me at jsmith [at] forbes [dot] com.

As part of the ‘Influencers’ program, LinkedIn regularly assembles editorial packages where the thought leaders write posts on the same topic. In the latest series of original posts, “The Best Advice I Ever Got,” more than 70 leaders in banking, real estate, public relations, energy, technology and travel shared insights on the words of wisdom that have most influenced and shaped their paths towards success.

Here’s what 10 top leaders had to say:

Richard Branson: “The best advice I ever received? Simple: Have no regrets. Who gave me the advice? Mum’s the word,” the Virgin Group founder wrote. “If you asked every person in the world who gave them their best advice, it is a safe bet that most would say it was their mother. I am no exception. My mother has taught me many valuable lessons that have helped shape my life. But having no regrets stands out above all others, because it has informed every aspect of my life and every business decision we have ever made.”

Martha Stewart: “The best advice I’ve ever received was from my father when I was 12 years old and willing to listen,” the media and business magnate wrote. “He told me that with my personal characteristics, I could, if I set my mind to it, do anything I chose. This advice instilled in me a great sense of confidence, and despite the fact that sometimes I was a little nervous, I stepped out and did what I wanted to do when I wanted to do it. I think it really often is up to the parents to help build confidence in their children. It is a very necessary part of growing up.”

Jim Kim: “Ever since I was a boy and played on sports teams, I’ve been fascinated by the challenge of leadership,” wrote the President of the World Bank. “How can you inspire or guide groups of people to success – sometimes to heights that they never dreamed of reaching as individuals? I thought about this a lot as a senior in high school in Muscatine, Iowa, where I was a quarterback for my team, the Muskies. We were in the midst of a long losing streak. And I mean long. As in years. In fact, it would eventually become the longest losing streak in the nation at the time — 56 games in all.

“We just weren’t very good; but I felt, as quarterback, that I should take some responsibility for the team’s performance. Our mounting losses only deepened my need to know what it takes to become an effective leader.

“Years later – too late for the Muskies – I received some great advice from Marshall Goldsmith, one of the preeminent authorities in the field of leadership. He told me this: ‘If you want to be an effective leader, listen to and accept with humility the feedback that comes from your team.’”

Beth Comstock: “One afternoon over ten years ago, I was talking on the phone to my boss, former GE Chairman and CEO Jack Welch, when the line went dead. I called his assistant Rosanne Badowski to say we had been disconnected,” wrote GE’s SVP and CMO. “’No you weren’t,’ she said. ‘Jack hung up on you.’ ‘Huh?’ ‘He wants you to know that’s what it’s like to be in a meeting with you,’ Rosanne said. ‘You’re too abrupt.’

“We both got a good chuckle out of that. Point well made, and with humor as the tutor. Jack himself had been pretty abrupt a few months previously, when he called me into his office. ‘You have to wallow in it.’ That’s what he said. I had just left a decade-long run in media to hop to the corporate side of things at GE, working with Welch on communications strategy.”

She said: “I cringe sometimes when I think of how I must have come across at times, and how long it took me to change my ways. And even now there are times when I forget Jack’s advice (it is a decade old). But yes, I’ve learned to not only wallow in it, but to enjoy it. Time to think and time to connect with people are as important as getting everything done. Sometimes you have to go slow before you go fast.”

Deepak Chopra, MD: “The best advice I got in life came from my parents. My mother was the archetypal goddess of wisdom symbolized in Saraswati, and my father was the archetypal healer and warrior. His name was Krishna and, like the divine Krishna, he embodied the knowledge and perseverance that guides us on the battlefield of life,” wrote the famous Indian-born American alternative medicine practitioner. “From an early age they impressed upon me through their words and actions that ‘True success comes from self-power.’”

He continued: “Furthermore, I was told that my core being was a field of infinite possibilities, infinite creativity, comfortable with uncertainty, synchronicity, and imbued with the power of intention and choice. These simple principles have guided my entire life and my journey as a physician and healer.”

Post Your Comment

Post Your Reply

Forbes writers have the ability to call out member comments they find particularly interesting. Called-out comments are highlighted across the Forbes network. You'll be notified if your comment is called out.

Comments

The best advice I got was from one of the big VPs of the company I work for. And it was echoed in an interview that Michelle Obama did on television. It was basically not to let myself get upset when someone was being really nasty to me and I knew I didn’t deserve it. My boss told me that it happens to everyone–even her–and that I was better than that. Sometimes I still backslide–especially when it’s someone I really care about–but I’m learning all the time to trust myself and sometimes to give other people space to come back to their normal wonderful selves.

Love my job, since I’ve been bringing in $87h… I sit at home, music playing while I work in front of my new iMac that I got now that I’m making it online. All I do are easy tasks from this one cool site Epic2.c om

Kaylee. you think April`s article is incredible, on tuesday I got a brand new Acura from bringing in $5866 this-past/5 weeks and-also, 10-k last munth. without a doubt its the most-financialy rewarding I’ve ever had. I started this 9-months ago and pretty much straight away started bringin home more than $72 per/hr. I follow this website,, — Buzz80.ℂOℳ

To succeed in life one has got to know that we are all equal human beings,made of same flesh and blood,but how come some are at the top and some are lagging behind; the only answer that one would find is: those who could reach the top possessed better will-power and did have the qualities of self-belief and confidence.There exists no fears in life except for the fear itself.My parents used to guide me that “if an A can do a job how come you can’t”? We have seen blind people walking around anywhere,even some of them could scale the highest mountain peaks.Even the people we may call handicaps did do marvels in doing jobs which none of normal human beings couldn’t think of doing.Advice,of course,is a major factor to fine tune one’s life.World is like a blind alley,one has to make his mark by dint of his own skill,actions and forthright self confidence.Lives of the all the leaders of the world,are open books,one should pick up the better portions of his experiences from his writing to know what made him to occupy that seat of a leadership.Losing is really a part of life.Loss itself teaches one an experience to stand up and work harder by learning from the experience of his failures.

up to I looked at the check which had said $9564, I did not believe that my sister could trully taking home money in there spare time on their apple laptop.. there great aunt has been doing this 4 less than 13 months and recently took care of the mortgage on there appartment and bought a gorgeous Chevrolet Corvette. I went here……. BIT40.ℂOℳ

Failures should act like windows of life! A window in a house is not there for the sake of design or decoration,its there for the health and hygiene of the house and for its occupants.Bad odour or smoke disappear through a window whilst simultaneously letting the fresh air and light to penetrate inside.One can peep through such a failure to shape his life ahead in a better way.Failures shouldn’t haunt an individual,let the life move on taking lessons from the same.Most of the failures are attributable to unfounded fears,one needs to conquor those fears with courage,indefatigable self-determination and self reliance,to ensure that such failures don’t recur and shouldn’t dent his goals.A true sports person is one who would take a failure in a proper sense of sportsmanship.Failure doesn’t mean an end of life,rather that could be an end of a phase yielding afresh phase to move on!

In my late teens/early 20′s, I was an Olympic style weight-lifting champion. I trained six days a week, twice a day. During this time I had MANY failures as well as MANY wins. My coach who was a former US Olympic athlete had some great wisdom he shared after some particularly hard failures, “If you don’t enjoy the journey, you won’t enjoy receiving your medal at the podium.” That advice still rings true today in all areas of my life today.